Joy of joys I now have a yeast infection in my breasts and LO has Thrush. I can narrow why down to the abx I finished last week for mastitis but now I have to take some new medication to clear this up. How do I build up the good bacteria again? I am going to pick up some acidolphilus when hubs gets paid on Friday and I've been eating yogurt. Is there anything else I can be doing? Anything to help with the itching/burning? I hate that it seems to be one thing after another with BF. [sadashamed]

Avoid sugar as much as possible - yeast "feed" on it. Hope it clears quickly for you!

Make sure that the yogurt is plain--no sugar. Cut out almost all forms of sugar temporarily, even natural ones. Yes, that means honey, maple syrup, even sweeter fruits. (green apples and berries are low in sugar though) One yeast infection diet that I've heard of is MEVY. (Meat, Eggs, Vegetables, Yogurt) (Of course, other stuff like beans is fine too)

Take your acidolphilous several times a day and eat yogurt with every meal.

And if you have to take ABX in the future, make sure that you take acidolphilous at the same time.

Good luck!

J I hate that it seems to be one thing after another with BF. [sadashamed]

I totally relate... [sadashamed]. Sorry it's so hard for you, too. You and I need to become a "support team" for each other... I think my left nipple is cracked again, and it looks worse than the original cracks I had. It hurt quite a bit for a while after nursing her on it today. [crytantrum] Still trying to get away without the shells, though, for a few days and see how it goes. I really don't want to have to wear them, but if it's the only way I can keep my nipples from being sore between feedings and it means I'll be able to nurse for longer, I guess I'll have to. Although, I think I'm noticing a difference from yesterday aside from the soreness from the crack this evening.

My nutritionist advised me to take 2 of the probiotics I have (it's a "multi" probiotic) daily for two weeks after having antibiotics. I think it would have been the same while I was on the antibiotics, because I know I did take them once while on an antibiotic before during the pregnancy for the bladder infection.

HTH.

Oh, and Sarah, try putting grapefruit seed extract or gentian violet on your breasts and baby's mouth for the thrush.

Okay thanks guys. I'll try that.

I totally relate... [sadashamed]. Sorry it's so hard for you, too. You and I need to become a "support team" for each other...

Yes we do. :-D

Yes we do. :-D

Wanna try to do like a daily check-in for now? I think it would help just to have a place to vent about the constant walls/struggles. For example:

What color are your nipples supposed to be?! I mean, I think I've forgotten what they looked like and felt like before bf'ing. :neutral: I was reading about thrush and noticed one symptom is "unusually" pink or red nipples. Well, before getting in the shower tonight, one of mine really looked red in the mirror! When I look down at it, it looks pink, but not a light kind of pink, more of a darker irritated kind of pink. And that was on my "good" side... the one that isn't hurting as much right now. I guess it was because it's the one most recently nursed on... or I wonder if I should be concerned about Candida. DD has some white residue looking stuff on her tongue, but it's not on all of it, more towards the back, and I'm not sure if it's always there or not. I think I notice it mostly after feeding her. I just don't know what thrush looks like.

Also, when I finished my shower, both of my breasts started feeling like they do when I get a milk let down while bf'ing. At least, it feels that way in the breast she's not nursing. The one she's nursing sometimes feels tingly. Anyway, there was milk leaking from them. I suppose this was because they got stimulated from the hot shower. Sometimes this happens also when I apply the nipple butter.

I am thinking right now I'm not sure I can go beyond 6 months, and that is my goal at this point. The way it has been going... I'll definitely be satisfied with 6 months, and as you said, I will not feel guilty because it has been a very difficult road. I loved the LC at our hospital because as passionate as she was about bf'ding, she also understood that not every woman can do it for a full year or longer. She was very encouraging in the class and even said if you can only give your baby colostrum, feel good knowing the benefits he/she got from that. She basically said do as much as you can do and feel good about whatever that is.

I'm not so sure about pumping. If my nipples are this sore now (and at least they are not getting progressively worse rubbing against my bra like before I used the pads or I'd be back to the shells) and it sounds like pumping is no walk in the park for them, I just don't think I can take it. [sadashamed]